Sasaram: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday pulled up the Bihar government for slow implementation of central flagship schemes like MNREGA and IAY and cautioned that the naxal movement may intensify if adequate steps were not taken to provide basic infrastructure to the rural people.

Expressing apparent dissatisfaction with no visible impact of central schemes on people's lives, the minister said that "much more needed to be done by the state government and the panchayati raj institutions under the central flagship schemes like MNREGA and IAY".

On a visit to Bihar's Rohtas district to inspect progress in implementation of the rural development schemes and the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) at Rohtas block, Ramesh said rural development schemes and anti-naxal operations by the paramilitary forces have been successful in containing naxal activities.

But the movement might intensify if adequate steps were not taken to fulfil the rural people's aspirations like road, education and health, besides employment opportunities, Ramesh added.

Taking in view the cost escalation in construction of houses, the Union Rural Development Minister said that it has been proposed to hike housing assistance to the BPL families in rural areas to Rs. 75,000 under the IAY, while those beneficiaries in naxal-affected areas will receive Rs. 80,000.